At every turn, fans are quick to share their selections of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the low achievers? It's time to take a few moments to examine the absolute worst games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this tech demo were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a complimentary title like some other console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to more generous reviews that noted the polished software underneath the controversy. In spite of the debate, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, notably in a year packed with stellar racing experiences. For many, this sputtering stinker was better off left unplayed.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating colon usage is a notable annoyance. This collection of retro Bubsy titles revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were mediocre to begin with and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score stands as a baffling anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler faced widespread disappointment from both reviewers and fans. Complaints centered on a thin roster of characters and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was especially vitriolic, with some stating a desire that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Critics argued that its goal to recreate a unique experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, finally released after years and years in legal limbo. The developers consciously chose to preserve the game as an period-accurate product of its time, accepting that contemporary players might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its development was far richer than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues centered on uninspired foes, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and detracted from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the tense surgery games of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of basic activities that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a major GTA-style title from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews universally panned its weak action, boring plot, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Despite the sea of negativity, a few of fans found value in the experience, serving as a distinct contrast.
